MARTIN Guptill struck 102 from only 38 balls as Worcestershire Rapids demolished Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road, chasing 188 to triumph by nine wickets with 6.5 overs left.

Rapids returned to winning ways after two T20 defeats ahead of Sunday's battle of the Vitality Blast North Group high-fliers on Sunday when Lancashire Lightning visit Blackfinch New Road (2.30pm).

Guptill’s fourth domestic T20 century and Joe Clarke’s 61 not out from 33 balls made mincemeat of the target to give the second-placed County their fifth victory in this season's competition.

Northants were utterly humiliated as Clarke and Guptill smashed 97 from the powerplay and 162 from 10 overs.

Guptill opened up in Richard Gleeson’s second over that cost 22 with a flick over mid-wicket for six, two slaps down the ground for four and a flick wide of short-fine leg.

Rory Kleinveldt replaced Gleeson and he also disappeared for 22 as the New Zealand international raised 50 in 20 balls.

Guptill swept Graeme White’s left-arm spin straight to deep-backward square leg only for Seekkuge Prasanna to step over the boundary.

A second slog-sweep went comfortably over deep mid-wicket and a straight drive found four more as White’s first over was taken for 19.

Prasanna was lifted over long-on for six and wide of long-off for four to go to 90 before Kyle Coetzer was straight driven for four and flicked over mid-wicket for six to raise Guptill’s century.

Then trying to lift Gleeson over mid-on, he was well held by Josh Cobb.

Clarke actually began the carnage. He smeared flat sixes over mid-wicket and point before classically steering two fours through the covers off Prasanna who leaked 19 from the fifth over.

A straight six off Coetzer raised his first 50 in this season’s Blast in 23 balls before Travis Head (20no) struck the winning six.

Northants never built up any momentum with the bat having been sent in and their 187-9 was a decent effort including 62 from the final five overs.

Richard Levi gave the innings a steady start. He flicked Luke Wood over mid-wicket for his first boundary, lifted the next over extra cover before pulling two sixes over square leg as 20 came from the third over of the game.

He drove Brett D’Oliveria past extra cover for his third boundary and lifted him into the Wilson Stand for his third six but trying to cut Moeen Ali’s second ball slapped it straight to point to fall for 39.

Ben Duckett also fell when set for further damage. He turned Andy Carter past short-fine leg for his opening boundary before flicking Ed Barnard twice to the deep-backward square fence.

He swung Pat Brown (3-31) over long-on for six to reach 25 in the final over of the powerplay before trying to repeat the trick and being caught at mid-off.

Alex Wakely again looked in good touch and reached 28 from 20 balls before slapping the ball back to Ed Barnard who took an incredible return catch above his left shoulder and at 118-5 in the 15th over Northants were flagging.

But Steven Crook played a much-needed cameo. He whacked a maximum just over the head of deep mid-wicket and pulled a second much further over the same region.

He thrashed Moeen (2-45) past extra cover for four before hammering the final ball of his spell for four more over the bowler’s head.

A fourth six was top-edged over long leg before a third boundary whistled past short third man off an outside edge but leaning out to drive a wide delivery from Barnard (2-38) he got a thin edge through to Ben Cox to fall for 33.

Kleinveldt (15) picked up the task and swung Barnard’s final over for boundaries either side of deep cover and a sweetly-struck six over long-off but he was cleaned up by Luke Wood in the penultimate over.

Guptill said: “It was a bit of fun. I’ve struggled in the last few innings so to go out there and get us back on the winning streak is pretty pleasing.

“I struggled a little early but then got a couple away and just went from there.

"It was a good wicket and you could swing through the line and back yourself to clear the boundaries.

“With the start they had they could have probably got a few more but credit to our bowlers - they dragged it back and kept taking wickets."